DEPAETMUNT OP l'AUDE, 307 



will finish by rallying themselves with the supporters of the measure^ when 

 enlightened by experience of the benefits it brings." 



It may be more than one of my readers may now be almost willing to 

 thauk me for having brought them to the scene of these operations by the 

 route I have done, in the pleasant company of such a tourist as Mr Weld. 

 But our errand accomplished, it would be pleasant, but apart from our pur- 

 pose, to accompany him further ; and, thanking him for all his details, her© 

 he and we must part. I found myself just now heaving a sigh at the 

 thought that the description of the country seen by him, in his descent to 

 Toulouse, must not be touched. Nor his details of what was seen by him- 

 in a journey thence through the department of Ari^ge, and the Eastern Pro- 

 vinces. May we never meet a less pleasant compaffnon ds voyage ! We 

 may journey long and not meet with a better, sharing not our passion, but 

 not less interested than we in the natural scenery to which it leads us. 



In the department of the Lower Pyrenees, operations are carried on in 

 three p^rimltres ; and in the Western Pyrenees, in the p^rimfetre of La Tet, 

 covering an area of nearly 5000 hectares. 



Sect. XL — Department of I'Aude. 



In the region of the Pyrenees are comprised, not only the departments of 

 the High and the Low and the Western Pyrenees, but also the departments 

 of Aude and Ari6ge, in which are carried on works of reboisement. Of two 

 p^rimfetres in the former — those of I'Argent-Double, comprising 2842 hect., 

 and of the Eialesse, comprising 1080 hect. — in monographs are given 

 special reports. Again selecting one, I take at hap-hazard the monograph 

 on the former :— 



" This p6rimHre lies in three communes of the canton of Peyriao- 

 Minervois, arrondissement of Carcassonne : they are those of Cannes, Citon, 

 and Lespinassi^re. 



"It was decreed of public utility on the 22nd April 1863. 



" L' Argent-Double takes its rise in the territory of Lespinassifere, at the 

 bottom of a valley closely confined, running east and west, and the crests 

 of which constitutes the boundaries of the departments of Aude and of 

 Herault. 



" From its origin to the end of the p6rimfetres, this mountain stream 

 receives a great many affluents, of extemely irregular delivery, which take 

 their rise in the three communes of Lespinassifere, Citon, and Cannes. 

 Besides, it receives, on the territory of Cannes, a considerable affluent called 

 the Buisseau du Cros, which takes its rise in the commune of F61ines- 

 d'Hautpool (Herault), and flows along and across the p6runfetre before its 

 junction with I'Argent-Double. Nothing has been done in the commune of 

 F61ines-d'Hautpool to regulate the flow of this mountain stream. The moun- 

 tains in which it takes its rise are aU of them in a bare state, or a state of 

 grievous destruction. It would be desirable that reboisements were executed 

 on the territory of this commune, to secure in time coming the advantages 

 expected from the works being executed in the Aude. 



" The actual p6rimfetre comprises the steepest slopes, and the most devoid 

 . of soil, of the valleys of 1' Argent-Double, and of those of the affluents 

 situated in the department of I'Aude. 



